Linus Quick is a German techno-composer and techno-DJ, who lives in Offenburg. With his already impressive overall work of innovative techno tracks and his unmistakable grooves, he delighted his audience at many club sessions and festivals such as Mayday, Nature One, Winterworld, Radionation and Ruhr-in-Love. His compositions are played by many renowned DJs around the world. On his previous album “True Friends” on Complexed Records, Linus Quick proved his special musical creativity with melodic deep techno.
Linus Quick – Tethys
With a fresh upcoming release on Alan Fitzpatrick “We are the Brave” record label, he takes a slight turn into another direction regarding the style he usually approaches. The outcome of “Tethys” is simply fantastic. Read all about the release in the interview below.
This interview comes with a guest mix made for us. Enjoy!
Tracklist:
01. Linus Quick – Tethys
02. Alan Fitzpatrick – Raw
03. Scot Project – U (I Got A Feeling) Eats Everything Extended
04. Victor Ruiz – The Eye Of The Beholder
05. Konstantin Sibold & Kosme – Cyclone
06. Linus Quick – Neso
07. Skream – Poison
08. Dj Murphy & Dolby D – Deadpoil (Linus Quick Remix)
09. Niereich & Linus Quick – Secret
10. Linus Quick – Nebulas
11. Jones & Stephenson – The First Rebirth (Charlotte de Witte Rework)
Linus Quick’s “Tethys” EP on We Are The Brave is now available for pre-order via Beatport. Grab your copy »
Hello Philipp,
Nice to hear from you again. It’s been over a year since our last interview. Hope you are doing fine?
Hey guys, thanks for having me back! Nice to be chatting with you again. 🙂
A year is quite a long time in the music industry. What are some of the major highlights for you over the past year?
A lot has been going on, one of my highlights is my upcoming release on We Are The Brave, Alan Fitzpatrick’s label. The release is called “Tethys” and will be out on the 7th September. I also have a few other releases coming up with my mate Niereich on Suara and Octopus.
The other big news is a track to be featured for the first time on a Second State compilation, a label run by Pan Pot. I have been a big fan of their music and label for a long time, as with Alan’s, so really excited for this one. I have had a lot of amazing support from Charlotte De Witte this year too, which is very humbling! She actually invited me to make a mix for her radio show in Brussels on KNTXT (Studio Brussel).
You are not a person that needs a lot of time off so it seems. New work is coming up on “We are the brave”, as mentioned. Want to tell us a bit more about it?
Well, I think we all need some down off, but I am a workaholic and at the moment have been feeling very focused on the projects I am working on. My good friend Boxia introduced me to Alan a while ago and we have stayed in touch, and I sent him over some tunes that I finished. He picked 3 for the EP. I have been a fan of Alan for a long time, so many years already, so to now be a part of his label is really something special for me.
I feel it’s important to always be moving forward and developing new styles and sounds with the ideas and moods I have at any certain time.
We’ve noticed the sound is different than your previous releases? Are heading in a new direction? Or is it a one-time-shot to fit the label?
Yes, it is. It’s not as acid focused as my other productions. I feel it’s important to always be moving forward and developing new styles and sounds with the ideas and moods I have at any certain time. My last album “True Friends” was a concept thing working with only a few elements and that was very different from a lot of my other work. Techno is what I love and live, so I took a lot of influences from my wife, friends, experiences and recent travels, and punched out these tracks in the studio. I like a good melody and beat, and think it’s always going to be a good track if you can combine both those elements successfully.
I took a lot of influences from my wife, friends, experiences and recent travels, and punched out these tracks in the studio.
The three tracks on “Tethys” sound fantastic though. Love the approach. Want to tell us how these came together?
I actually recently looked for a new VST synth called Dune2 and I love it! I also got the new Ableton, Reason and the FL Studio. All of my main sequencers have new versions. New tools are always good to be creative with and to learn new techniques and sounds, so I tried out a few experiments for these tunes and I am happy with the result.
With a summer that seems to be everlasting over here in Europe, you must have had some nice experiences? We’ve noticed you played Nature One and a gig in the beautiful Melkweg in Amsterdam? I am sure I am forgetting many other fantastic places. Tell us about some of these experiences?
Melkweg was a real highlight for me. Amsterdam is such a beautiful city and the team from the Deep ‘n Dance / Kraft Amsterdam event are so cool, professional and awesome to work with. Nature One was also another to mention here, I played for the first time in a bunker, and the vibe was one of a kind, really enjoyed it. I am not the biggest artist in the industry but hope this develops over the next few years with a lot of hard work, and some standout releases, so that I can enjoy some of the big outdoor festivals and events.
Is there a difference playing a festival and an indoor gig according to you? Do people react differently?
Yes and no. I see this question asked a lot by many DJ’s and yes there are differences. With a large festival, you feel a little more disconnected from the crowd, as you are on these huge stages, but the production and the number of people are insane. Smaller clubs are cool because you get that intense almost like after-party vibe, which I do love. It’s not that I think the fans react differently, they all come for a good time, and they know what they want to hear, whether it’s in a club or outdoors on a huge stage. I think the experience is more different for the DJ.
A year ago you told us you played more DJ Sets and less Live sets. How is this today?
Yeah, that’s true. I liked playing live, but now I am actually 100% only DJing. I really like it so much and enjoy every gig. Playing live is a craft and has its benefits, but there is a lot to travel with too.
Let’s go way back. How did it all start for you as an artist in the electronic music industry? Who were your influences and so on?
I started to get into electronic music and learning how to DJ about 20 years ago – time flies! The early influences were, of course, people like Sven Vath and Carl Cox, and what’s interesting is that nowadays, they are still the same names that appear for much younger generation DJ’s too, they have remained current and dominating at what they do because they truly are some of the best. Of course, more recently Charlotte De Witte, Alan Fitzpatrick and Adam Beyer are more who really have carved their place in the industry, work hard and produce amazing music, events and give support to others. That’s what’s important, and influential.
The early influences were, of course, people like Sven Vath and Carl Cox, and what’s interesting is that nowadays, they are still the same names that appear for much younger generation DJ’s too.
Now that you are quite an established artist, I am being modest, forgive me, do you have fans in the industry? Who’s playing your tracks and does it make you proud?
Hahaha, after I just said that I am a small artist! Thank you. I think everyone has their own persecution of themselves, and I do not consider myself as higher level as some of those I have talked about here. I have been making music my whole life, and to be honest, fame and fortune are two things I never started out with an intention to achieve. I hope a few people out there like what I have been producing. Thanks to people like Alan and Charlotte to name two, who have been supporting my tracks. And yes, it’s a very proud moment to hear your own music appreciated by someone else, or see fans come to a show to dance to YOUR music. As long as the crowd is happy, and I love what I do. Then I have succeeded.
What news do you have for us, release- & gig-wise?
As mentioned before, the main focus is the tracks on We Are The Brave and then Second State, along with working with my friend Niereich on the Octopus release. This year, I think that my musical output will be less than what it has before and will be focusing on working with some labels a little more exclusively. I’d love to look at further releases with Alan’s team into 2019.
Gig-wise, I have a few shows coming up in my homeland of Germany, and we are working on options for the UK and Amsterdam Dance Event.
Hope to see you play someday soon! Thank you for your time.
Thanks so much for having me guys! I hope you enjoy the mix. 🙂
Linus Quick’s “Tethys” EP on We Are The Brave is now available for pre-order via Beatport. Grab your copy »
Like what you are reading? Please check out the other great interviews we have on our website. Check them out »